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You are here: HomenextExplore our archivenextTopicsnextCelebrating MaynextMay Days Past

May Days Past

In days gone by the coming of summer was a time of celebration as people welcomed the better weather and looked forward with hope, to a bountiful harvest.
Children gathered wildflowers to make posies, to decorate themselves and altars dedicated to Mary. Flowers were strewn on doorsteps and  hung above the entrance to home, byre and well to bring luck and protection from the faeries. In some parts of the country dancers wove ribbons around May poles and effigies of Mary were carried through the streets for the May Day parade.
Here, you can read memories of May Days past and add your own, using our online form.
We are particularly interested to uncover photographs of May customs, so if you have any images you can share then please email them to ouririshheritage@gmail.com 

  • 'May Days Past' Online Form

    'May Days Past' Online Form

  • "The Month of the Blessed Virgin"

    "The Month of the Blessed Virgin"

  • A variety of customs from Cahir, Tipperary

    A variety of customs from Cahir, Tipperary

  • Burning the May bush

    Burning the May bush

  • Crowns for Our Lady

    Crowns for Our Lady

  • Decorating the May Bush

    Decorating the May Bush

  • Eve of May Day and May Day

    Eve of May Day and May Day

  • Happy Days

    Happy Days

  • May Altar

    May Altar

  • May Altar

    May Altar

  • May Altar

    May Altar

  • May Altar

    May Altar

  • May Altar and May flowers

    May Altar and May flowers

  • May Altars

    May Altars

  • May Day in South Tyrone

    May Day in South Tyrone

  • May Day revival

    May Day revival

  • May Eve bonfires

    May Eve bonfires

  • May fire and fairies

    May fire and fairies

  • May flowers, May Altar and May Procession

    May flowers, May Altar and May Procession

  • Memories of May, The Month of Mary

    Memories of May, The Month of Mary

  • Nature Table

    Nature Table

  • Our Lady coming to visit

    Our Lady coming to visit

  • Our May Memories

    Our May Memories

  • Picking buttercups

    Picking buttercups

PAGE:12Next >
Celebrating May
  • May Customs & Traditions
  • Let's Welcome the Summer!
  • May Days Past
  • May on Our Doorstep
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